Block Feature

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   TXSasquatchposted 11 years ago

   It would be REALLY nice to  have a block feature (à la Facebook)!

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      Matthew Meyerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the suggestion.
      
      What specifically would this feature address?
      
      How would you like/expect block to work on HubPages?
      
      Would it hide a user completely from your view on the site?
      
      Hide user from you on the feed, email messages, and/or site notifications?
      Allow them to view your Hubs?

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         Barbara Kayposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         It would be nice to be able to block spam from comments on our hubs. There has been a problem for some writers here with that. I hate the idea of blocking other Hubpage writers though. That would be almost mean.

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            Matthew Meyerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            @Barbara You can currently limit comments on Hubs to logged in users only and set your Hubs to require approval for comments.
            In response to recent comment SPAM, we also recently released updates to better address comment SPAM in Hubs and in the forums.
            http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/115865#post2467485

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         TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I would like to have the option to block someone completely--i.e., make the two of us completely invisible to each other, just like a Facebook block.  If I block someone else, he/she could not see my profile, my Hubs, my comments, nothing--and vice versa.  Again, we would be 100% invisible to one another--as if we weren't even on HubPages anymore at all.

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         CraftytotheCoreposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I'm all for freedom of speech without moderation.  However, with liberty comes consequences.  When I first started here a few months back, I stayed because everyone was terrifically pleasant.  I was actually delighted at such a wide variety of nice people on here which is rare find today on the internet.   I still feel that same way, however, I have seen cyber altercations which have made me turn off the computer for a few days.  I wonder if HP will entertain a block feature from the standpoint of productivity.  Written word is powerful.   Sometimes avoidance is the only option.

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      Matthew Meyerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We discussed this feature in detail in our community meeting and have decided not to implement functionality to block users at this time.

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         Cardisaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Matthew, doesn;t the blacklist feature work that way? We can blacklist people on our profile pages.

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   Writer Foxposted 11 years ago

   It would be nice to be able to block specific people from following you.  One Hubber stole one of my Hubs and posted it on his blog.  I filed a DMCA to have it removed and wrote to HubPages asking them to not allow him to follow me.  But, he's still allowed to follow me.  Not only that, but he has since stolen someone else's Hub, too.  I don't want him to receive a notice every time I publish something and am really surprised that HP didn't cancel his account!

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      relacheposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Blocking someone from following would not stop them from being able to see your Hubs or plagiarism them.
      
      Why do you think such a feature would be helpful and/or necessary?

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         TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         To be frank, some people don't play well with others.  If a particular individual proves him/herself to be a jerk, I should be able (a) to make him/her invisible to me and (b) to make myself invisible to him/her.  Plagiarism is a secondary concern.  The block feature is more about the fact that the Internet makes some people brave and often stupid, and I simply have no desire to interact with people who can't be civil.  I hate to keep bringing up Facebook, but this is one thing that they definitely got right.  It would be great if HubPages--and all social media--offered the same functionality.

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            ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I agree - a block feature would be very nice for some here who are hypercritical of everyone who doesn't agree with them. Some people simply can't or won't be civil for whatever reason and it would be nice to just "out of sight out of mind" those folks.

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            relacheposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I have been on this site for seven years and have never had a problem when it comes to dealing with uncivil people that couldn't be solved by me just not interacting with them, or reporting truly bad apples to admin.
            
            If you "simply have no desire to interact with people who can't be civil," how come that requires a world-erasing technical function instead of a simple act of personal will on your part?

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               TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               I'm glad you've had good luck.  I've been here for three weeks, and I've already run across several people whom I would have blocked on Facebook.  As for your question, if you've never run across the type of jerk of whom I speak, I can't answer it, except to paraphrase Justice Potter Stewart:  You'll know it when you see it.  Besides, it's a simple enough feature to program.  Why not make the option available for those who wish to use it?  Obviously there are others who want it, too.

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         Writer Foxposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Preventing a known plagiarist of my Hubs (and the Hubs of others) from following me would prevent the sending of an automatic email alert every time I published something new.  Yes, he could still check my Subdomain Profile Page everyday, but at least he would have to do that instead of just relying on an instant email.
         
         I can't imagine why you would not find it a problem for a known plagiarist of your work to be allowed to follow you.

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      Matthew Meyerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      As Relache alluded we don't know who a person is until they login.
      So all a "blocked" person would have to do is logout and could see your content.

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         Writer Foxposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I know.  But I wish you would stop him from following me and stop sending him an email every time I publish something!

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         TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Our content is only a part of what's on this site, right?  We have questions and discussions, too, and discussions are where we're more likely to run into trouble with jerks.  A person might be able to see a discussion without logging in, but he or she cannot comment without logging in, so a block would work.  Someone could lurk unimpeded but could not flame.

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   moonlakeposted 11 years ago

   I know we all want Facebook clicks on our hubs but I wish there was a way to stop someone from placing my hub on their Facebook. I know it can’t be done I’m just dreaming. I had a lady that placed my hub on her Facebook started to disagree with me and how terrible I was and I should remove the hub. She got someone else in on it that person posted on my hub and made remarks about me on Facebook.  She tried to post on my hub but I wouldn’t let it go on my hub. They are having fun at my expense on Facebook. I don’t know these people and I have tried blocking them from my email. I also complained to Facebook but it did no good. I actually never thought of this happening.

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   psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

   I would rather see more moderation so that acting like an ass becomes more difficult.

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   moonlakeposted 11 years ago

   There will always be unkind people nasty in the comments they try to make to you on your hubs and the way they talk to you on forums.The way they talk to everyone. Most are just know it alls. I block comments I don't like if they're putting me down I don't let it go through. They are just bullies. It's almost impossible to stop them from stealing stuff. You might get one take down but another will pop up. Other sites you can block people but how can you do it on here. When anyone can check out the hubs signed in or not.

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      CraftytotheCoreposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That is a very true point that if one logs out, the information is still out there to be seen on the internet by all.  So in essence, a block feature would serve to virtually only block the writer's view from seeing out.  People could still see in.

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         TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         There's more to this site than Hubs.  If someone makes a comment about a Hub that's too nasty, we don't have to allow it to post, but what about discussions?  That's where we're most likely to run into trouble, and people can't comment in discussions without being logged in to the site.  If they're happy with lurking and reading posts but never commenting, so be it, but if they want to flame in a discussion, they must log in to do it.  It would be simple to program a block feature that would help us deal with those jerks.

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      TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We could have a setting that limits the viewing of our content to people who are actually signed in to HubPages.  Obviously that would be a big limitation that wouldn't make a lot of sense to most people, but individual users should have that option if they wish.
      
      Regardless, I'm not just talking about people viewing our content.  There are trolls who have been on HubPages for months or even years and still have zero (yes, -0-) Hubs.  All they do is stalk people in discussions and flame at every opportunity, and there needs to be some method for dealing with those jerks.  Clearly we don't want a closed community, but the IT experts at HubPages who get paid to figure these things out need to get to work and devise some clever way for us to avoid "adam henry's" altogether.

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         Will Apseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I would recommend a stiff upper lip.
         
         Failing that, breath deeply and slowly.
         
         Then remind yourself that they cannot reach through the screen to get you.
         
         Also if someone annoys you over and over again, don't read their posts.

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            TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            That's really pretty condescending.  If you understood my point, you'd know that it's not that simple.  There are people here who never write Hubs.  They're here for the sole purpose of being discussion trolls and flaming at ever turn.  A block feature would be a simple fix for that problem.

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               Will Apseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Well, I'm taking my own advice and not reading your posts from this point forward.

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                  TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  There you go again.  SMH

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               relacheposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Maybe we should group people who've been on the site for less than a month and only have one Hub in with those zero-Hub people too, because they're probably doing it just to not have zero Hubs so they can keep going with their own forum trolling.

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                  TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Was that really necessary?  Clearly I'm not the only one who would like a block feature.  If you don't, so be it, but there's no reason to be snarky to those who do.  I fully intend to write more Hubs, but I'm not going to crank out garbage--not to mention I'm still working on a third novel.  When I have time to write more, I'll write more, but in the meantime, I would like to address a separate issue.  It would be nice to be able to do so without being demeaned merely for having an opinion that's different from yours.  Okay?  Can't you just agree to disagree and leave the rest of us in peace?  SMH

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         Matthew Meyerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         >>We could have a setting that limits the viewing of our content to people who are actually signed in to HubPages.
         
         The biggest side effect of this is that no users who come through search and who do not have a HubPages account would be able to read your Hub.
         This could have a tremendously negative effect on potential traffic and views.

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            psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I think we are talking about the viewing of the forums.

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               Matthew Meyerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               The original feature suggestion proposed was to block everything.
               http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/116724#post2467632

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                  psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  That kind of block does not affect the public.  It is one particular person choosing not to see the work of another particular person.  So it would have no effect on search engine traffic.
                  
                  Then the conversation shifted to forums specifically.  Blocking forum visibility to the public would remove the motivation to spam.

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               TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Yes, forums are the biggest problem.  That's where trolls are most likely to rear their ugly heads, and a block feature would limit flames.

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            TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, I alluded to that in my post.

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      TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It's not just about Hubs.  It would be simple to block people in discussions.  They could lurk, but they would have to log in to flame--and that's when the block would kick in and prevent it.  Simple.  Problem solved.

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         CraftytotheCoreposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I don't know about HubPages, TX, but one time I had a family member try to openly flame me in FB.  I had blocked the person and they still managed to do it through commenting to others.  I don't use FB today because of the nasty arguments that would go on in my family.

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            TXSasquatchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            That's a valid point, but if someone is just trying to push your buttons, he or she can't do that very well if you can't see the nasty stuff that he or she is posting.  Eventually that will get boring, and he or she will lose interest and stop.

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   mbuggiehposted 11 years ago

   A "block" and a "like" feature would be useful.

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   relacheposted 11 years ago

   Oh, I do know it when I see it.
   
   Those who choose to hang out in the most-purposely-vitriolic forums on HubPages shouldn't have their experience dimmed or fettered in the slightest.  That would ruin all the fun.

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   Thomas Swanposted 11 years ago

   I was thinking of starting a new topic, but saw this here.
   
   I would like to block someone who has been stalking my hubs and leaving nasty comments for a couple of months now.  They're not petty insults, just things like "this is so biased", "doesn't that make you a hypocrite", you know, just underhand nastiness to start an argument with me. It started 2 months ago when I answered one of his comments and gave him the argument he wanted. I don't do it any more because I know his game, but he's become a bit obsessed. I suppose I could delete his comments, but I suspect he'll keep posting them. I deleted one of his posts before and he came back acting all civil. Now he's just descended into what I described earlier. Would rather just block him and not have to worry.

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      relacheposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Set your comment capsules to only allow registered users.  Harassment is against hubPages rules, but admin can only take actions against members of this site.  Report the harassing member directly to admin (email them and explain what's been happening).

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         Thomas Swanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         He's a registered user but it's hard to tell if he's crossed the line. He's very careful not to descend into blatant name-calling, but I'm fed up with him appearing on so many of my hubs with those underhand comments. I'll see what can be done via reporting, but in this case, block would be perfect.

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         Mklow1posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         The danger in "Blocking" is some people misconstrue a person reading interesting hubs and discussing a difference of opinion as "harassment". I think a lot of people have writers they like to read, so If the guy has been reported and Hubpages hasn't kicked him off, it is because he has done nothing wrong. "Blocking" someone because you don't like them or their opinion and being banned for harassment are two different things. I say let the professionals handle it.

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   Beth37posted 11 years ago

   I only read most of the first page, so Im sorry if this was addressed, but as is typical for the internet, blocked ppl simply start new accounts and then harass you with a new name. I have had this happen countless times, which is why I tend to joke with trolls here on the forum, cause that is, for me, the only way to deal with them. I doubt we personally could block their url, however hp's could block their url, but that would mean disallowing them to participate on hp's at all, putting hp's personnel in the position of constantly dealing with arguments and having to choose sides... a position I would not envy. I would assume all we could do is the whole disapproving comments thing although blocking would be nice at times.

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